Nightmare on Jefferson St.

Throughout the course of the 2011 NBA Finals, I found myself pulling for the Miami Heat.  Like any other basketball fan, I found myself drawn to the compelling story of LeBron James, The Decision, the Heatles, and everything surrounding their traveling soap opera.  Couple that with the fact that I am extremely loyal to the Phoenix Suns, and the thought of the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Mark Cuban winning an NBA championship does more than just rub me the wrong way.  Couple that with the fact that Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion both played key roles in the Mavs title run, and you can understand my anguish.  It wasn't until the last two minutes of the fourth quarter in Game 6 that I realized my disdain for the Mavericks had temporarily subsided.  I actually found myself to be a bit more jealous than anything.  Jealous of the fact that the Mavericks were hoisting the gold trophy before my beloved Suns.  Jealous of the fact that Casper the Matrix Marion finally decided to show up for a playoff series, albeit with the wrong team.  But most of all, jealous of the fact that the fans of the Mavericks have an owner that actually cares.  Mark Cuban has made it clear from the first day he purchased the team from Donald Carter that his goal was to bring a title to the fans of Dallas.  Cuban isn't a fledgling banker trying to run his basketball team like a Wells Fargo.  Just be relevant enough to put fans in the seats.  Just making the playoffs and barely being above 500 isn't acceptable.  His focus is on winning, at any cost.  He too could have let his best player walk in free agency last summer and saved his money for a rainy day.  He could have chosen to hide behind past injuries.  However, he decided that Dirk was worth the money, and Nowitzki repayed him with the Larry O'Brien trophy less than a year later.  Fans of the Phoenix Suns can only dream of what it would be like to have an owner that cared more about winning than the bottom line.  An owner that cares more about the product out on the court, than just cutting a profit.  An owner that isn't satisfied with just making the playoffs for the couple extra million in revenue that those coveted playoff home games generate, but actually having a legitimate shot to compete for the title.  From Joe Johnson to Steve Kerr, Amar'e Stoudemire to Dave Griffin, prized employees are continually shown the door, only to flourish someplace else.  Bill Simmons' portrayal of the Seven Seconds or Less era and when that brand of basketball officially died in Phoenix will open up old wounds but if you can handle the painful recollection, it's worth the read.  Surprisingly, the end wasn't when you may have thought.  The Big Cactus makes for a large scapegoat but there is plenty of blame to go around.  Meanwhile the organization will be quick to remind you of their overall winning percentage, of which the Suns are 4th best in league history.  You will also be reminded of the 3 trips to the conference finals since 2004, when a local banker purchased the organization for $401 million from Jerry Colangelo.  Unfortunately in professional sports, jewelry and banners do all of the talking.  And last time I checked, the only hardware residing in US Airways Center belong to the Phoenix Mercury and the Arizona Rattlers.  All the while leaving nothing but a disgruntled fanbase left to constantly ponder what might have been.  The sad truth for Suns fans is that this is no dream.  The nightmare that is Robert Sarver will be tormenting Suns loyalists for years to come.  How is that for a rude awakening?

Farewell to The Diesel

After 19 illustrious and entertaining seasons, Shaquille O'Neal decided to hang up his size 23's on Wednesday.  By using a new social-media application, Tout, Shaq informed his many fans around the world that he indeed would be retiring from the NBA.  He will hold a news conference on Friday from his Isleworth home in Orlando to make the announcement official.  It is the end of an era in professional basketball as perhaps the most dominating specimen to ever grace the hardwood, as well as one of the most charismatic and entertaining, is finally calling it quits.  I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Shaq back in 2002 during the height of his popularity, and the Lakers 3-peat.  He had just finished toying with the Phoenix Suns, as was so often the case, and on his way to the team bus, stopped and shook my hand and autographed my media guide.  Shaq was by far and away, the largest human being I had ever encountered.  His hand alone stretched all the way to my elbow.  Not only is he larger than life in person, but he has the personality to match.  In the NBA years post-Jordan and pre-Kobe/LeBron, the face of the NBA was undoubtedly Shaquille O'Neal.  Having grown up in Phoenix and being a Suns fan through and through, Shaq was difficult to deal with as an opponent, I always could appreciate what I was fortunate enough to witness.  And once when the Suns were able to add Big Shaqtus to the roster in 2008, it was nice to know that he was finally on our side, be it the twilight of his career or not.  Going forward, the league will be a little less entertaining without the great sound bytes and post-game interviews.  Here's to hoping that we see @SHAQ sitting across from Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA next season.  That is if they can find enough room to have The Big Aristotle and Sir Charles on the same set.